Multi-functional credit card type portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

An embodiment includes a credit card device capable of generating a programmed magnetic field of alternating polarity based on a speed of a card swipe, and methods for constructing the device for the purpose of emulating a standard credit card. An apparatus is described to allow said device to emulate behavior of a credit card when used in electronic credit card readers. Additionally methods are described to allow user control of said device for the purpose of authorizing or controlling use of said device in the application of credit, debit and cash transactions, including cryptocurrency and card-to-card transactions. Methods are also described for generating a limited-duration credit card number when performing a transaction for the purpose of creating a limited-use credit card number, which is limited in scope of use to a predetermined number of authorized transactions. Furthermore said device may interact with other similar devices in proximity for the purpose of funds or credit/debit transfers.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Non-provisional patent Ser. No. 14/680,979, entitled “Multi-FunctionalCredit Card Type Portable Electronic Device,” filed Apr. 7, 2015 toinventor David Wyatt, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Non-provisional patent Ser. No. 14/217,261, entitled “Multi-FunctionalCredit Card Device,” filed Mar. 17, 2014 to inventor David Wyatt, whichclaims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent No.61/794,891, entitled “Multi-Functional Credit Card Device,” filed Mar.15, 2013 to inventor David Wyatt, each of which are hereby incorporatedin their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments according to the present disclosure generally relate toelectronic or smart credit card devices and, more specifically, to moresecure, smart credit card devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are several different types of credit cards available in themarketplace at present. A first type of credit card is a conventional,standard piece of plastic with a magnetic strip, which is readilyavailable and in wide commercial use. The advantage of this first typeof credit card is that a large portion of the infrastructure for creditcard transactions is built around this type of card, and consequentlysuch a card works in a wide array of vendors' credit card machines,automated teller machines (ATMs), and other devices that support thepresent credit card and banking infrastructure.

Another type of credit card device employs the use of a smart integratedcircuit chip. These types of credit cards have a built in microprocessorwith cryptographic capabilities. These microprocessors operate in asimilar manner to a cell phone having a chip comprising a cryptographicprocessor. Such a smart card device requires contact with a reader inorder to be read and to perform a transaction. The reader provides themanner in which a facility interacts with the built-in processor on thecard, e.g., for purposes of performing verification on the authenticityof the card or for making a direct deposit on the card. These creditcard devices also comprise a magnetic strip such that they arecompatible with standard plastic credit card readers in wide use.

A different type of credit card device in circulation employs radiofrequency identification (“RFID”). These cards essentially have alow-power RF antenna built into the card, and when the cardholder passesthe antenna in front of a reader comprising an RF field, enough power isgenerated to enable the processor to interact wirelessly with thereceiving device.

A concern with each of these types of credit cards presently availablein the marketplace is that they can all be, in various ways, susceptibleto theft and/or compromise. Therefore, these types of credit cards havesecurity limitations. Further, cards employing smart integrated circuitchips and RF technology are not in wide use at present because they areincompatible with existing credit card infrastructure, which stillpredominantly supports conventional plastic credit cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

An embodiment includes a credit card device capable of generating aprogrammed magnetic field of alternating polarity based on a speed of acard swipe, and methods for constructing the device for the purpose ofemulating a standard credit card. An apparatus is described to allowsaid device to emulate behavior of a credit card when used in electroniccredit card readers. Additionally methods are described to allow usercontrol of said device for the purpose of authorizing or controlling useof said device in the application of credit, debit and cashtransactions, including cryptocurrency and card-to-card transactions.Methods are also described for generating a limited-duration credit cardnumber when performing a transaction for the purpose of creating alimited-use credit card number, which is limited in scope of use to apredetermined number of authorized transactions. Furthermore said devicemay interact with other similar devices in proximity for the purpose offunds or credit/debit transfers.

More specifically, an aspect of the present disclosure provides anapparatus comprising: a thin card shaped sized body; a memory operativeto store a plurality of identification data; a processor coupled to thememory; a user interface for selecting a select identification data ofsaid plurality of identification data; a magnetic card reader detectionunit for determining if the body is adjacent to a standard magnetic cardreader; and an inductor assembly coupled to the processor and integratedinto the body, the inductor assembly under processor control forgenerating a magnetic field of alternating polarity responsive to thebody being detected as adjacent to a standard magnetic card reader, themagnetic field generated in a region substantially encompassing thestandard magnetic card reader, wherein the magnetic field encodes saidselect identification data, and wherein the magnetic field is operableto be read by a magnetic read head of the standard magnetic card reader.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a credit carddevice comprises: a near-field communication (NFC) unit; a touch sensorarray; a display; a motion rate detection array; a memory, storing auser data and a currency amount; and a processor operatively coupled tothe NFC unit, the touch sensor array, the display, the motion ratedetection array, and the memory; and wherein the processor initiates acard-to-card transaction between two credit card devices by a detectedproximity of a first credit card device and a second credit card deviceand an input of information by a first user via said touch sensor array,and wherein the card-to-card transaction comprises an exchange of storedcurrency and said user data between the first credit card device and thesecond credit card device via the NFC unit.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method ofperforming a transaction comprises: receiving an input signal at acredit card device from a user enabling operation of a near-fieldcommunication (NFC) unit of the credit card device; receiving anindication of an amount of currency for a transaction; generating atsaid credit card device a limited-duration credit card number; andtransmitting said limited-duration credit card number from said creditcard device to a recipient of the transaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example,and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanyingdrawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements.

FIG. 1 is an illustration depicting an exemplary interaction between acredit card device and a standard magnetic card reader, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A-2B are block diagrams illustrating data flow between themagnetic coils on the credit card device and the microprocessor on thecredit card according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2C depicts an exemplary process of selecting an account from aplurality of stored accounts according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of generating amagnetic field with an alternating polarity according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate a user interacting with a touch sensor of thecredit card device, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a credit card device connected with acomputing system and operating according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of two credit card devices performing atransaction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary process according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. While described in conjunction with theseembodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limitthe disclosure to these embodiments. On the contrary, the disclosure isintended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which maybe included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined bythe appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed descriptionof the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure.However, it will be understood that the present disclosure may bepracticed without these specific details. In other instances, well-knownmethods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described indetail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the presentdisclosure.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are presented interms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolicrepresentations of operations on data bits that can be performed oncomputer memory. These descriptions and representations are the meansused by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectivelyconvey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Aprocedure, computer generated step, logic block, process, etc., is here,and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps orinstructions leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiringphysical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though notnecessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magneticsignals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, andotherwise manipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient attimes, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to thesesignals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers,or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present claimedsubject matter, discussions utilizing terms such as “storing,”“creating,” “protecting,” “receiving,” “encrypting,” “decrypting,”“destroying,” or the like, refer to the action and processes of acomputer system or integrated circuit, or similar electronic computingdevice, including an embedded system, that manipulates and transformsdata represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computersystem's registers and memories into other data similarly represented asphysical quantities within the computer system memories or registers orother such information storage, transmission or display devices.

Encoding Via an Alternating Polarity of a Magnetic Field

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a smart credit card devicecomprises a dynamic magnetic region (strip) incorporating a maininductor assembly from which programmed magnetic field data symbols aredynamically generated. In one embodiment the inductor assembly may be aplanar coil formed within the material that embodies the credit card. Anadvantage of using a planar coil is that it can dynamically produce amagnetic field in such a manner as to emulate the interaction between atraditional magnetic strip and a conventional credit card reader. As themagnetic strip of a conventional credit card is passed through amagnetic reader head, stripes of alternating magnetic polarity embeddedin the strip induce a magnetic field of alternating polarity at thereader head. The pattern formed by the alternating polarity of themagnetic field encodes information, which when transformed by atransducer to a current signal in the magnetic reader head, providesuser information for a transaction.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a credit card device ableto generate a programmed magnetic field, wherein data is encoded andrepresented by an alternating polarity of the generated magnetic field.In a similar manner to a conventional plastic credit card, the magneticfield produced by the planar coil is able to be read by a pickup (or“transducer”) and to thereby transmit information to the magnetic cardreader. FIG. 1 illustrates a credit card transaction 100 performedbetween a credit card device 101 and a conventional magnetic reader 150.The credit card device 101 generates a magnetic field of alternatingpolarity 120 to be read by the conventional magnetic card reader 150,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The credit carddevice 101 is moved at a rate 130 relative to a magnetic reader head 155of conventional magnetic card reader 150. The magnetic field 120 extendswith sufficient distance and intensity from credit card 101 so as to beread by magnetic head reader 155. The magnetic head reader 155 respondsto the magnetic field 120 by producing a current in the conventionalfashion, which is then interpreted as encoded information by themagnetic reader 150. Therefore the magnetic field of alternatingpolarity 120 produced by the credit card device 101 has a substantiallyidentical encoding effect as a traditional magnetic strip.

A characteristic of encoding information in a conventional magnetic cardstrip is that binary information is encoded by the pattern ofalternating magnetic polarity formed by ferromagnetic stripes embeddedon the magnetic strip. As the conventional magnetic card strip has astandardized format, the encoding of information is provided at aspecified data density (bits per inch), according to which conventionalmagnetic readers are designed for interpretation of encoded data. Inorder to most ably emulate a conventional credit card interaction with aconventional magnetic reader the credit card device 101 of the presentdisclosure is provided with a means of determining a substantiallyoptimal rate for alternating the polarity of the generated magneticfield 120 in order to produce data at a rate which is able to be readilyreceived and correctly interpreted by the conventional magnetic reader150. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide several means ofdetermining the relative movement rate 130 between the credit carddevice 101 and the magnetic reader head 155. These features, as well asother characteristics of the credit card device of the presentdisclosure, can be better appreciated by a description of the internalcomponents and functions of credit card device 101.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict exemplary embodiments of the smart credit carddevice, in a block diagram view. The components of the block diagram areillustrated according to functional connections, and their locationsshould not be construed as being limited to the respective locations asdepicted in FIGS. 2A-2B. In FIG. 2A, credit card device 201 a is shownin a block diagram view. Credit card device 201 a comprises a processor205 and a memory unit 207, the processor 205 operatively coupled to thecomponents of credit card device 201 a. The memory 207 comprises aplurality of accounts 209, which may be credit card accounts, bankingaccounts, merchant accounts, online accounts, cryptocurrency accounts,and combinations thereof. A motion detection module 210 is coupled tothe processor unit 205 and to a set of motion detection units, whichcomprise a rate detection assembly 225, an optical sensor array 230, anda set of accelerometers 235. The magnetic field is generated via aplanar coil 220, which is controlled by the processor unit 205 via acoil interface 215. The rate at which the magnetic field changespolarity to encode the user data depends on the rate of relativemovement detected by the rate detector. The credit card device 201 afurther comprises a real-time clock 240, a touch-sensor array 245, and adisplay 250, each operatively coupled to the processor unit 205. A userinput may be made via the touch sensor array 245, which may comprise atouch screen panel, a keypad, or a combination thereof. The display 250is able to display an alphanumeric sequence, as well as graphical icons(such as a logo for a bank, or other images). Further, an optionalbackup power source 255 is depicted.

In one embodiment, the processor unit 205 is connected to the planarcoil 220 and the motion detection units, via the motion detection module210. The processor unit 205 is responsible for determining theappropriate rate with which to output data from the planar coil 220,wherein output data is encoded using alternating polarity of a generatedmagnetic field. The rate of the alternating polarity of the magneticfield is generated in accordance with the detected movement speed withwhich the card is swiped through the reader, in order for the reader toreceive the encoded data at the appropriate rate. Magnetic card readers,which are designed to read conventional credit cards, are constructed toread data at specified input rates that correspond with the data densitypresent in conventional magnetic card strips. The magnetic data symbolsgenerated by the planar coil 220 are produced to align with the rate atwhich data is being read by the magnetic card reader. Accordingly, it isirrelevant if the credit card device 201 a of the present disclosure isbeing swiped quickly or slowly, the planar coil 220 is controlled by theprocessor unit 205 to produce data at a substantially optimized rate,where the rate of data production is dependent on the rate at which thecredit card device 201 a is detected to be passing across the magneticreader head.

FIG. 2B depicts a credit card device 201 b according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Credit card device 201 b comprises a processor205 and a memory unit 207, the processor 205 operatively coupled to thecomponents of credit card device 201 b. The memory 207 comprises aplurality of accounts 209, which may be credit card accounts, bankingaccounts, merchant accounts, online accounts, cryptocurrency accounts,and combinations thereof. A motion detection module 210 is coupled tothe processor unit 205 and to a set of motion detection units, whichcomprise a rate detection assembly 225, an optical sensor array 230, anda set of accelerometers 235. Additionally, a galvanic sensor 275 iscoupled to processor unit 205. The magnetic field is generated via aplanar coil 220, which is controlled by the processor unit 205 via acoil interface 215. The rate at which the magnetic field changespolarity to encode the user data depends on the rate of relativemovement detected by the rate detector. The credit card device 201 bfurther comprises a real-time clock 240, a touch-sensor array 245, and adisplay 250, each operatively coupled to the processor unit 205. A userinput may be made via the touch sensor array 245, which may comprise atouch screen panel, a keypad, or a combination thereof. The display 250is able to display an alphanumeric sequence, as well as graphical icons(such as a logo for a bank, or other images). Further, an optionalbackup power source 255 is depicted. Credit card device 201 b furthercomprises a near-field communication (NFC) unit 260, as well as a radiofrequency identification (RFID) unit 265, both of which are operativelycoupled to the processor unit 205. In one embodiment the NFC and RFIDmay share the planar coil for use as a RF antennae, through the coilinterface 215. In one embodiment one or both the NFC and the RFID mayhave antennae dedicated to that individual sub-system. A universalserial bus (USB) connector 270 is coupled to the processor unit 205. Thefunctionality of the components with regard to exemplary uses of creditcard devices 201 a and 201 b is described in greater detail in thefollowing description.

A further aspect of the present disclosure provides a single credit carddevice that can be used for multiple banks or financial institutions.For example, instead of carrying a separate credit card for each accountof a variety of credit card companies, a customer need only to carry asingle card according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Thecapability of the credit card device to generate a multitude of creditcard numbers provides the ability of the credit card device to beassociated with multiple accounts. Furthermore, inputs at the touchsensor array on the credit card device can be used to select theappropriate bank or credit provider account stored in the memory unit ofthe credit card device.

FIG. 2C depicts a process of selecting an account from a plurality ofstored accounts in order to perform a transaction with the selectedaccount, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Theprocess 280 begins at step 282, where a plurality of accounts stored bythe credit card device memory is displayed. The plurality of accounts209 are stored by memory 207, and are displayed using display 250. Auser indicates an account selected from the plurality of accounts atstep 284. The selection is able to be made by keypad or touch sensorarray 245, and an indication of the selected account can be displayedvia display 250. At step 286 the credit card device is configuredaccording to account information associated with the selected account,which may include an account number, an expiration date, and other userinformation associated with the account (e.g. a username, PIN, password,email address, etc.). At step 288 the planar coil of the credit carddevice is encoded with a limited-duration credit card number that isassociated with the selected account. The limited-duration credit cardnumber is able to be generated according to the selected account, atimestamp, a transaction amount, an indicated merchant, user key orsecrets, on-card unique hardware secrets, credit card authority key orsecrets, user input from the card interface, and other informationassociated with the transaction.

Movement Rate Feedback

The relative movement rate of credit card device 201 a is detected byone or more of the set of motion detection units, comprising the ratedetection assembly 225, the optical sensor array 230, and the set ofaccelerometers 235. Each of the motion detection units detects themotion of the credit card 201 a in a distinct manner. The rate detectionassembly 225, which is positioned alongside (but independent of) theplanar coil 220, is able to detect the location of a magnetic headreader as the rate detection assembly 220 is being passed through thecredit card reader. The reader module of a conventional credit cardreader comprises a metal head having a small gap at the tip of the head.A pickup armature resides in this gap, such that as the metal headpasses over a credit card strip, an electric field is induced in thehead reader pickup circuit. In one embodiment the rate detectionassembly 225 is constructed of an array of auxiliary inductor coils andmagnetic pickup coils. As the metal head of the card reader assemblypasses over the arrangement of auxiliary inductor coils and magneticpickup coils of the rate detection assembly 225, a disturbance in themagnetic field flowing between the two is induced, generating a changein current and producing a detected movement signal. The change incurrent is detected by the motion detection module 210, and is used todetermine the rate of motion of the card reader head passing across thesurface of the credit card device 201 a (and therefore along the planarcoil 220).

The optical sensor array 230 is also operable to detect a movement rateof the credit card device 201 a with respect to a conventional magneticcard reader. The optical sensor array 230 is disposed nearby the planarcoil 220, in order to accurately detect a movement rate in the region ofthe planar coil 220. In an embodiment, the optical sensor array 230 is athin strip parallel to, and extending along, the length of the planarcoil 220. The optical sensor array 230 determines a location of aminimum of received light, which corresponds to the region of a surfacein nearest proximity to the optical sensor array 230. The magneticreader head of a conventional magnetic card reader extends furthest fromthe surface of the card reader, and therefore the detected minimum inreceived light at the optical sensor array 230 corresponds with thelocation of the reader head. By tracking over time the position of thisminimum received light along the optical sensor array, a detectedmovement rate may be found.

The set of accelerometers 235 are also operable to detect a movementrate of the credit card device 201 a. The set of accelerometers 235 arepositioned in the credit card device 201 a in order to effectivelymeasure the position and acceleration of the credit card device 201 a.In an embodiment, the set of accelerometers comprises groups ofaccelerometers, each group having one or more accelerometers disposed atorthogonal planes to each other, and each group capable of generatingsignals that allow for determination of the orientation, motion andacceleration of the credit card device 201 a.

The detected movement signal is received by the motion detection module210. The detected movement signal is generated by any one of the set ofmotion detection units, or any combination of motion detection units ofthe set. For example, the movement detection signal is able to begenerated by the combination of the rate detection assembly 225 and theoptical sensor array 230. In an embodiment, the movement detectionmodule 210 is able to determine the movement rate of the credit carddevice 201 a from the detected movement signals, and transmits thedetermined movement rate, and orientation to the processor unit 205. Inan embodiment, the motion detection module 210 sends the detectedmovement signal to the processor unit 205, and the processor unit 205determines the relative movement rate.

In one embodiment, the generation of the magnetic field by the planarcoil 220 at a specified rate of alternating polarity is accomplishedaccording to the following description. One or more of the motiondetection units in the set of motion detection units (rate detectionassembly 225, optical sensor array 230, and set of accelerometers 235)detect a movement rate of the credit card device 201 a with respect to amagnetic card reader, and signal the motion detection module 210. Themovement rate is provided to the processor unit 205, which determinesthe appropriate rate for alternating the polarity of the magnetic fieldgenerated by the planar coil 220. The processor unit 205 outputsinstructions or data to the coil interface 215 at the determined rate,which in an embodiment is a digital-to-analog converter (a DAC) and actsto translate the signal from digital to analog in order to drive theplanar coil 220 and produce the magnetic field. The instructions fromthe processor unit 205 are comprise binary code, which are outputthrough a shift register to the coil interface 215. The shift registeroutputs data at a rate proportional to the determined movement rate ofthe credit card device 201 a—thus, a higher determined credit carddevice 201 a movement rate has a corresponding higher output rate at theshift register, leading to a higher rate of alternating polarity at thegenerated magnetic field (i.e., encoded data symbols output morequickly). Conversely, a lower movement rate of credit card device 201 aleads the processor unit 205 to control the shift register to outputdata at a lower rate, and consequently the rate of alternating polarityin the generated magnetic field is lower.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary process 300 for determining the rate toalternate the polarity of the generated magnetic field of the creditcard device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Atstep 301 the process determines if a standard magnetic card reader isdetected to be in proximity with the credit card device. If NO, the steprepeats. If YES, the process moves to step 303. At step 303 a detectionof a movement rate at which the body of the credit card device is movingrelative to the standard magnetic card reader is made. The processcontinues at step 305, wherein a magnetic field is generated by aninductor assembly comprised by the credit card device, the magneticfield having a target rate of alternating polarity that is based on thedetected movement rate from step 303. The process then repeats at step301, determining if a standard magnetic card reader is (or remains) inproximity to the credit card device. In this manner, while a standardmagnetic card reader is detected to be in proximity to the credit carddevice, the movement rate of the credit card device is determined andthe polarity and orientation of the generated magnetic field isalternated at the appropriate rate, to recreate the data as describedabove, at the correct rate, in order to clock out the data to beconveyed to the magnetic strip reader, at a rate matching the action ofan ordinary magnetic strip card through same said magnetic card reader.

Security

Security is an area of concern for credit card holders, as the smallform factor makes theft quite easy, and additionally there are many waysfor a malicious third-party to record the account number of a creditcard in order to later make fraudulent transactions on the account.Embodiments of the present disclosure address security concerns of acredit card owner on several fronts.

In one aspect, security of the credit card device is enhanced byproviding a means of locking the credit card device in order to preventuse, until such time that a valid user input is entered. Embodiments ofthe present disclosure provide a credit card device having a region forreceiving human input, e.g., touch sensors which are able to be formedby contacts that a user can press (e.g., the touch sensor array 245 ofFIGS. 2A-2B). FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate a user interacting with a creditcard device 401 via a keypad or touch sensor array 445. In FIG. 4A, thecredit card device 401 is in a locked state. A display 450 is able todisplay a message to the user, for instance, the message “device locked”or “enter password,” or question prompts which guide the user to respondwith answers through said key-pad or said touch sensor, to certainpreset questions, that confirm personal knowledge known only to theassociated user. The touch sensor array 445 enables user interactionwith the credit card device 401. An exemplary use of the touch sensorarray 445 is an input of a currency amount to be used in a transaction.The touch sensor array 445 is able to include buttons, or atouch-sensitive pad, or a combination of the two. Other embodiments ofthe touch sensor array 445 allowing a user to input data to the creditcard device 401 are consistent with the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure.

In order to unlock the credit card device 401 and enable a transactionor other usage, the user inputs data via the touch sensor array 445.FIG. 4B illustrates the user inputting a password via a gesture 470,which operates to unlock the credit card device 401. The display 450 bis able to display a message indicating the credit card device 401 isunlocked and ready for use, for instance, display 450 b may display themessage “unlocked,” or it may display an account number associated withthe credit card device 401.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide additional functionalityfor the touch sensor array 445. For example, there may be touch contactterminals that a user can press to wake up the credit card device 401,to cause the battery to supply power, or to place the credit card device401 in a power reduction mode when it is not being used. In anembodiment, if any number other than the correct password is enteredmultiple times, or if there is an attempted usage of the credit carddevice 401 without entering in a password, an automatic phone call maybe triggered to the appropriate fraud protection authorities.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the display 450 is athin-film liquid crystal display (“LCD”). The display 450 is able tohave multiple uses. In one embodiment, the display 450 can be used tocue the user for a security question upon input of an improper password.Or if fraud protection services need to contact a customer, they canverify the customer's identity by transmitting a security question tothe display 450 of user's credit card device 401, to which the userwould need to respond correctly using the input buttons of touch sensor445 on the card.

Limited-Duration Credit Card Number

A further security feature of the credit card device provided in thepresent disclosure is the capability of producing a limited-durationcredit card number for performing transactions using accounts of thecard. The credit card device comprises a real-time clock that is able toproduce a cryptographically protected timestamp for each interaction.The power source is able to activate the processor unit such that aunique number may be generated by the credit card device and verified bythe credit authority according to the timestamp and the transmitted userinformation. The limited-duration credit card number is able to beproduced at the time the credit card device is performing a transaction,and is able to be generated according to the user's private information,a bank information, information regarding the facility performing thetransaction, and the time of day. The limited-duration credit cardnumber is able to be limited to only one transaction, a finite number oftransactions, or may be limited to a specified period of time—e.g., 2minutes, 10 minutes, 3 hours—after which time that particularlimited-duration number would become invalid. As detailed above, if anexpired limited-duration credit card is attempted to be used for atransaction, the transaction is denied and an automatic notification isable to be made to a credit authority in order to notify the user and toprevent transactions on the account. The transaction count is able to bedetermined through the action of passing the card through magneticreader, and the process of transmitting said card number to said cardreader.

In one embodiment, the number on the front of the card is able to be afull or partial number. In an embodiment, the number displayed on thecredit card device is a static number, but the number transmitted duringa transaction is a limited-duration credit card number as describedabove. The number displayed on the credit card device may notnecessarily be a static number. For example, the first four and lastfour digits of the credit card number are able to be fixed, while theremaining eight digits can be dynamically generated. As the credit cardis read by the machine, part or all of the number may be dynamicallyproduced at the time the card is read. As described above, the dynamicpart of the limited-duration credit card number generated may be basedon the user's private information, the user's bank information, the timeof day or the facility that is reading the card. Further, the expirationdate of the credit card device can also be dynamically generated.

Effectively, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a credit carddevice that has no fixed number, and therefore the account cannot becompromised. Only the number generated at the instant of the credit cardtransaction matters. Accordingly, unauthorized use of the credit carddevice is highly unlikely, because a transaction cannot be conductedwith an expired limited-duration credit card number, or only the staticportion of the credit card number. In one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, sufficient dynamically generated numbers are provided for onthe credit card such that a unique credit card number can be generatedfor each transaction. In this embodiment, the credit card of the presentdisclosure effectively acts as a unique per-transaction credit card.

In one embodiment, the process steps enabling a card transaction are asfollows. A credit card device (e.g., credit card device 201 b) isconnected to a computer system (e.g. computer system 590), via any ofthe connection means available to the credit card device (USB 270, NFC260, and RFID 265). User data and other essential information, such asaccount information, are downloaded to the credit card device. Forexample, for an account designed for online transactions, user accountinformation will likely include an account email and an accountpassword. The account may be for example a bank account, a creditaccount, a merchant account, an online transaction account, or acryptocurrency. In one embodiment a currency amount is also downloaded,which is made accessible to the credit card device 201 b fortransactions. In an alternative embodiment, rather than a currencyamount being downloaded to the credit card device 201 b, the useraccount information (e.g., username and password) is stored such that asubsequent authorized credit card device 201 b transaction isautomatically pre-authorized to deduct (or credit) the enteredtransaction amount at a stored account. In an embodiment, a user usesthe touch sensor array 245 of the credit card device 201 b in order toinput the user information, including the amount of currency to bestored. The information entered by the user is able to include anaccount source of a transaction (e.g., bank account, credit account,merchant account, ATM, online payment service, or a cryptocurrency), aswell as a type of transaction to be made (e.g., as a debit card, as acredit card, or as a user account). In another embodiment, theinformation is entered using the computing system to which the creditcard device 201 b is connected.

Transactions may be authenticated on the specified account by entry ofthe username and password for the account during the transaction, usingthe touch sensor array 245. In an embodiment, a password for an accountis represented by a user input (such as a gesture, a swipe, and/or anunlock keycode) which is entered on credit card device 201 b during atransaction for account authentication. According to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, a user that has “primed” the credit card device201 b for a transaction has already performed a security authenticationon the card, and therefore a subsequent card transaction is able to bepre-authorized to perform the transaction without further userauthentication steps. The priming action can be a tap of the credit carddevice 201 b detected by accelerometers 235, or a gesture, swipe, or akey input received by touch sensor array 245.

A transaction is able to be communicated using the planar coil 220. Inone embodiment, when the transaction is a credit card transaction, alimited-duration credit card number is generated. A user inputs anamount for the transaction using the touch sensor array 245, and thelimited-duration credit card number is generated to correspond with theentered amount. The binary data corresponding to this limited-durationcredit card number is sent from the processor unit 205 to the coilinterface 215, where it is converted to an analog signal in order todrive the planar coil 220 to generate a magnetic field having analternating polarity corresponding to the encoded data of thelimited-duration credit card number.

Online Transactions

FIG. 5 displays the credit card device 501 in connection with acomputing device 590. In one embodiment, the credit card device 501 isable to be used to make online purchases. In one embodiment, the creditcard device 501 is equipped with a means 570 for communicating with theUSB port on a computer or other device in order to make onlinepurchases. In one embodiment the credit card device 501 may have an areacut-out, such that contact terminals corresponding to a USB cableconnector are contained within, enabling connection of a USB cable(e.g., a micro-USB connection). When performing online transactions, thecredit card device 501 can uniquely generate a limited-duration creditcard number (as described above) for online purchases. The credit carddevice 501 receives a user input indicating that a transaction isimminent, and an authorization. The user input is able to comprise agesture, a swipe, a key input sequence, and combinations thereof. Thelimited-duration credit card number is able to be displayed on the frontdisplay of the credit card device 501. In one embodiment, the creditcard device 501 is able to use RFID 265 or near field communication NFC260 technology in order to connect to a personal computer 590. Thisenables a per-transaction, limited-use credit card number, enhancing thesecurity of the credit account by substantially negating the possibilityof a theft of the credit card number used to perform the transactionleading to account compromise.

According to an embodiment, the transaction is able to includeinformation regarding a user account, such as an email address of theuser, and upon reconnection of credit card device 201 b to a computersystem (for instance, computer system 590), the transaction informationstored on credit card device 201 b could be “replayed” by the computersystem in order to finalize the transaction.

In one embodiment, a means of limiting an available credit amount areprovided. According to the download process described above, the creditcard device is able to have a total credit available. The credit carddevice is able to reference the total credit available in subsequenttransactions, and will provide limited-duration credit card numberscorresponding to amounts up to, but not exceeding, the remaining creditavailable to the credit card device. An attempt to perform a transactionhaving an amount exceeding the remaining credit available will notresult in a valid limited-duration credit card number, and therefore anauthenticated transaction cannot proceed. In general, the credit carddevice will only successfully generate a limited-duration credit cardnumber if the proper conditions for a transaction are determined to bepresent. The proper conditions for a transaction comprise a correctidentification having been made by the user (via a gesture, swipe,and/or key input) and an amount for the transaction indicated to be lessthan the total credit available to the account indicated for thetransaction.

Card-to-Device Transactions

In addition to transactions performed using conventional magnetic cardreaders (such as at point-of-sale locations, banks, and automated tellermachines (ATMs)) and via cable connection with a computing device,transactions performed wirelessly between a card and a device (e.g.,card-to-card, card-to-computer device having a reader dongle,card-to-ATM) are provided according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure. For simplicity, the following describes a card-to-cardtransaction, but it will be understood that card-to-device transactionsare similarly provided.

FIG. 6 illustrates a card-to-card transaction according to oneembodiment. A first credit card device 601 a comprises a display 650 a,and is in contact with a second credit card device 601 b. A contactinteraction between the cards is indicated by interaction 680. In oneembodiment, the contact interaction is a tapping of credit card device601 a against credit card device 601 b. In another embodiment, anoptical sensor array at one or both of the cards detects interaction680. In another embodiment, interaction 680 indicates a swipe of creditcard device 601 a across credit card device 601 b. In one embodiment auser input through said key-pad initiates and enables a transaction fromfirst card to second card. In one embodiment the presence of second cardin preparation for card to card transaction is confirmed through“polling”, the process of which involves transmission of data betweencards, and confirmed receipt of transmitted data by response receivedfrom second card received at first card, including informationconfirming receipt of said information, by second card.

The planar coil comprised by each of credit card device 601 a and creditcard device 601 b is able to be a means of transferring information fora transaction, e.g., such as an antenna. Once either, or both, of creditcard device 601 a and credit card device 601 b detect interaction 680, atransaction is able to be completed via generation of a magnetic fieldat one card and reception of the magnetic field (i.e., reading) at theother card. In this manner, the card (e.g., credit card device 601 a)receiving the transaction information operates its planar coil in anantenna mode. This enables credit card device 601 a and credit carddevice 601 b to authentically perform a transaction, and to transfer acurrency between credit card device 601 a and credit card device 601 b.As described above, in an embodiment the transaction is able to use alimited-duration card number to encode the transaction.

In an embodiment, a set of accelerometers is used to detect thebeginning of the transaction, for instance, a transaction performed by aswipe of credit card device 601 a across credit card device 601 b.Further, the set of accelerometers can detect a “priming” action for acredit card device, i.e., an indication for a credit card device that atransaction is imminent. The priming action can be a tap of the creditcard device 601 a, or tapping the credit card device 601 a against thecredit card device 601 b. In one embodiment, a touch sensor array isable to be used for the priming action.

In an embodiment of a card-to-card transaction, one card (e.g. 601 a,the card of the user having a currency debit) generates thelimited-duration credit card number, which is transmitted via the card'splanar coil. The credit card device of the recipient (e.g., 601 b, thecard of the user receiving a currency credit) receives the encoded datavia the planar coil, acting as an antenna, and the coil interface isable to convert the received signal into a digital signal understood bythe processor to be the limited-duration credit card number, identifyingboth the correct account and the amount of the transaction.

In one embodiment, the credit card device 201 b stores cryptocurrencyinformation in processor unit 205. The cryptocurrency information storedis able to include a plurality of cryptocurrency addresses, a pluralityof private keys, and a plurality of public keys. The credit card device201 b is able to perform a transaction, as described above, using acryptocurrency as the specified account. In one embodiment, the creditcard device 201 b is able to hash a portion of the transaction, usingthe processor unit 205 and the real-time clock 240 along with userinformation pertinent to the cryptocurrency account and the transaction.A subsequent connection of the credit card 201 b to a computing deviceprovides a means of connecting to the cryptocurrency servers andfinalizing the transaction. Further, the credit card device 201 b isable to sign a cryptocurrency transaction by, for instance, receiving aprompt at the display 250 to input a dynamic PIN specific to thetransaction, which is able to be entered by touch sensor array 245.

In a card-to-card cryptocurrency exchange, a record of the transactioncan be made according to the following. A first card (e.g. 601 a) makinga deduction with an amount indicated via touch sensor array 245 is ableto generate a record of the transaction and store the record in the cardmemory, while a second card (e.g. 601 b) receiving the cryptocurrency isable to generate a confirmation of the received transaction amount. Inone embodiment, the amount indicated is provided by the receiving card601 b. The hashed record of the transaction contains the uniqueinformation of each user, along with the transaction amount. The successor failure of the transaction is able to be displayed on the respectivedisplays of credit cards 601 a and 601 b.

Account Theft and Unintended Use Prevention

A security concern for conventional credit cards utilizing wirelesscommunication means is the ability of a thief to access and/or copy userinformation through un-detected interaction with the wirelesscommunication means. Sensitive and confidential information can begleaned via, for example, “listening-in” on an RFID interaction betweena credit card and a contactless reader, recording the characteristics ofthe interaction, and replicating certain characteristics to fake anauthorized transaction. While to a great extent security concerns areaddressed by the usage of limited-duration credit card numbers and othersecurity features provided for by the credit card of the presentdisclosure and previously described, a further security featureregarding the wireless communication means of the credit card device isdescribed herein.

In one embodiment, wireless communication means of the credit carddevice 201 b are in a powered-down, or disabled, state prior toreceiving an authenticated activation signal from a user. Upon receivingthe activation signal, the communication means (e.g., NFC 260, RFID 265,and planar coil 220) are activated, enabling the credit card device 201b to conduct a transaction. The activation signal can originate from one(or a combination) of the set of motion detection units (rate detection225, optical sensor array 230, and accelerometers 235), the touch sensorarray 245, and the galvanic sensor 275. The galvanic sensor 275 isoperable to detect a contact of human skin, via a current produced atthe sensor 275 upon such contact. In an embodiment the galvanic sensor275 is comprised of metallic contacts disposed on opposite sides of, andisolated by, the body of credit card device 201 b. In one embodiment,the current produced by user contact with the galvanic sensor 275contacts is sufficient to provide small amounts of energy in order topower components of the card. For example, energy produced is able topower the processor unit 205 and the RFID 265. In one embodiment thegalvanic sensor 275 further comprises two conducting surfaces separatedby a junction, and the galvanic sensor 275 is configured as athermoelectric generator (e.g., via the Peltier effect, the Seebeckeffect, or a combination). For example, heat applied at one surface ofthe credit card device 201 b may lead to differential heating betweenthe opposing, separated conducting surfaces of the galvanic sensor 275,generating an electric current and powering a subset of, or all of, thecomponents of credit card device 201 b (e.g., the processor unit 205,the NFC 260, and the RFID 265).

In an embodiment, the communication means are activated only so long asthe activation signal continues to be detected. In another embodiment,the communication means are activated for a specified amount of timefollowing detection of the activation signal. For example, if using thecredit card device 201 b in an ATM (or other device) preventingcontinuous human contact, the activation signal is able to be a swipe,gesture, or key input sequence entered via the touch sensor array 245,which activates the card for a specified duration (for instance, oneminute). In an embodiment the detection of motion through accelerometerinput indicates activation by a valid user. In one embodiment thespecific motion detected through accelerometer input corresponding witha specific user action, such as a “flick”, “swipe”, “spin”, “wave”,“tap,” may be used to initiate activation, wherein said motion is notnormally generated at idle and during periods of inactivity. For examplesaid motion not being generated accidentally while said card is storedin a user's wallet, carried while the user is actively moving, or isbeing handed from user to a clerk at a point of transaction. In oneembodiment the specific motion, or sequence of motions, may beassociated with a user, and stored on said card memory, such thatperforming the correct sequence when prompted can confirm the possessionof the card by the known owner, thus initiating activation and enablingusage.

FIG. 7 depicts a process of selectively enabling the communicationcapability of the credit card device according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The process 700 begins at step 701, where an inputsignal is received at the credit card device from a user. The inputsignal is able to be generated by any one, or combination, of aplurality of input means, where the input means comprise: a swipegesture received at a touch sensor array; a key press sequence; anaccelerometer sensor indication of credit card device motion; and agalvanic sensor indication that the credit card is in a user grasp. Theinput received from the user enables operation of a near-fieldcommunication (NFC) unit of the credit card device. In one embodiment,the NFC unit is disabled prior to receiving the input signal. In oneembodiment, an RFID communication unit is disabled prior to receivingthe input signal, and is activated by the input signal. In oneembodiment, the planar coil is disabled prior to receiving the inputsignal, and is activated by the input signal.

The credit card device, following enablement of the NFC unit, receivesan indication of an amount of currency for a transaction at step 703. Atstep 705, the credit card device generates a limited-duration creditcard number, which at step 707 is transmitted to a recipient of thetransaction. In one embodiment, the limited-duration credit card numberhas a limited recurrence, and is limited in scope of use to apredetermined number of authorized transactions.

In the foregoing description of process 700, the ordering of the processsteps is exemplary and should not be construed as limiting. Alternativeordering of the process steps is consistent with the present disclosure,as conceived by one skilled in the relevant art.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention andvarious embodiments with various modifications as may be suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Embodiments according to the invention are thus described. While thepresent disclosure has been described in particular embodiments, itshould be appreciated that the invention should not be construed aslimited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to the belowclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of performing a transaction, said methodcomprising: receiving an input signal at a credit card device, the inputsignal corresponding to operation of a near-field communication (NFC)unit of the credit card device being enabled by a user; receiving anindication of an amount of currency for a transaction; generating atsaid credit card device a limited-duration credit card number; andtransmitting said limited-duration credit card number from said creditcard device to a recipient of the transaction.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the input signal is generated by at least one of a plurality ofinput means, wherein an input means of the plurality of input meanscomprises at least one of: a swipe gesture received at a touch sensor ofthe credit card device; a key press sequence received at the touchsensor; an accelerometer sensor indicating motion of the credit carddevice; an action and sequence of motions of the card as performed by auser; and a galvanic sensor indicating the credit card being in a usergrasp.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the credit card device is in apower-reduction state and the NFC unit is disabled prior to receivingthe input signal.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited-durationcredit card number has a limited recurrence, and further wherein thelimited duration credit card number is limited in scope of use to apredetermined number of authorized transactions.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein said transmitting is performed by said NFC unit.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said transmitting uses said NFC unit tocommunicate said limited duration credit card number to a computersystem to facilitate an online transaction performed by said computersystem.
 7. A method of performing a transaction, said method comprising:receiving an input signal at an electronic device, the input signalcorresponding to operation of a near-field communication (NFC) unit ofthe electronic device being enabled by a user; receiving an indicationof an amount of currency for a transaction; generating at saidelectronic device a limited-duration number; and transmitting saidlimited-duration number from said electronic device to a recipient ofthe transaction.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the input signal isgenerated by at least one of a plurality of input means, wherein aninput means of the plurality of input means comprises at least one of: aswipe gesture received at a touch sensor of the electronic device; a keypress sequence received at the touch sensor; an accelerometer sensorindicating motion of the electronic device; an action and sequence ofmotions of the electronic device as performed by a user; and a galvanicsensor indicating the electronic device being in a user grasp.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the electronic device is in a power-reductionstate and the NFC unit is disabled prior to receiving the input signal.10. The method of claim 7, wherein the limited-duration number has alimited recurrence, and further wherein the limited duration number islimited in scope of use to a predetermined number of authorizedtransactions.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein said transmitting isperformed by said NFC unit.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein saidtransmitting uses said NFC unit to communicate said limited durationcredit card number to a computer system to facilitate an onlinetransaction performed by said computer system.
 13. The method of claim7, wherein said electronic device comprises a credit card device. 14.The method of claim 7, wherein said limited duration number comprises acredit card number.